When I was a tiny person, watching the old late night TV movies, this was a peculiar film that had me absolutely terrified. My sisters laughed at me, but the falling rocks made me dive for cover into the sofa. Maybe it was the little girl turning to stone that tripped the goosebumps in me?
I have looked for this movie on occasion, finding that Amazon wants too much for a rental (and their copy isn't much better quality than this one, TBH), so I was tickled to stone that Archive.org had it. If only the copy was sharper, it would be a five star film.

Gosh dog it, that was good. Simple, interesting and kid friendly, I've watched it three times in as many years...

This is an absolute classic from (1957). Starring Grant Williams as the intrepid Geologist, Dave Miller and beautiful fiancé, Cathy Barrett (Lola Albright). You may remember him for his miniscule turn as The Incredible Shrinking Man! (1957). This film would make a great double feature with The Monolith Monsters.

Unfortunately, its not here on Archive.org. It can be found on Amazon and there is a current copy up on YouTube at this moment, although you may need to slow the speed down.

Back to this film: Our story opens with meteorite strikes in the desert Salt Flats near a Southwestern California town of San Angelo. Not much going in this sleepy town before the meteorites strike. Soon, all will be in peril after a sudden midnight rain storm has a bad reaction with these strange obsidian-like stones. The inhabitants spring into action to save the people and the town from complete annihilation. Will they make it in time?

There are many fine actors in this film every carries there own weight. Like little 7-year-old Linda Scheley in her one and only foray into acting as second grader, Ginny Simpson who falls prey to the pretty rocks. To a wonderfully long list of uncredited cameo appearances by Troy Donahue (Jackson), Paul Frees (Narrator), Paul Petersen (Young Paperboy), and a shiningly humorous performance by William Schallert as the over-educated Meteorologist; that's weatherman to us.

This film gets a solid 5 Stars from me in the 50s B-film genre. There are no annoying stupid characters, very few screaming females, no sexism, no racism (Ok, ok, there are only white people in this film). What there is respect and very little cynicism. A wonderful family film.

I agree with the other reviewer that both of these films would benefit from both restoration as a b/w film and colorization. I'm not one to shout that b/w films should stay b/w even if I do agree that films such as 'The Maltese Falcon' a fantastic noir crime film is better in b/w; I think the world could handle both versions of any great old classic b/w film. The more we make old films enjoyable for everyone the greater the interest in preserving our entertainment film legacies the world over.

Pop up a big batch of popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, turn the lights down low and enjoy a great double feature of "The Monolith Monsters" with another forgotten 1957 gem, "Kronos", also available on The Archive here:

https://archive.org/details/Kronos

1957 Science Fiction Thriller ~~ Aliens from another world send a huge 300 foot high robotic accumulator to invade the Earth and absorb all energy it comes in contact with. Great special effects. A forgotten classic!

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Haven't seen that movie since the 60's....it was good to see it again. Too a degree this movie like many of this time were the beginnings of a new era of Sci Fi.......much like "Forbidden Planet" in 1956. Monolith Monsters did a decent job on special effects and should be colorized.